Amusement device



May 28, 1940. R. E. KELLER 2,202,738

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS May 28, 1940.

R. E. KELLER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed June 6, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f I l I III l I f I l l l I5 I 33 h 35 .9 22 2a Tr '1 I 2-3703? /?;fl/f //6fmvmnm Ev my Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMUSEMENT DEVICE Roy E. Keller, Arlington, Va.

Application June 6, 1939, Serial No. 277,706

2 Claims.

invention relates to an amusement device and has for an object to provide apparatus comprising a tank, a slide, and an elevated seat releasable through the medium of a target being struck by a baseball or other game piece used by player, to dump the occupant off the seat onto the slide and into the tank.

A further object is to provide, in apparatus of this type, a pivoted seat and latch means connected with a target for holding the seat in normal position, the seat when unlatched falling into position in alignment with the top of the slide so that the occupant will be positively ejected onto the slide safely and quickly.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 and showing the seat in normal position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the device showing the seat in normal position.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of the device showing the seat rocked to dumping position.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of the releasable seat prop and keeper.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the target and lever thereof for dislodging the prop.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the target and lever.

Figure 8 is a detail perspective View of the bar which limits movement of the target lever to operative position and alsoforms means for anchoring one end of the target controlling spring.

45 Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in form.

In carrying out the invention, a seat 20, best shown in Figures 3 and 4, is provided with a support 2| which is rigidly secured to the rear portion of the seat through the medium of A- shaped braces 22 and which is pivoted at its lower end to the platform, as shown at 23. The seat extends at a right angle to the support 2| so that when the seat is released, as will be presently described, it will fall into a position in alignment with the slide and in this position the front portion of the seat overlaps the upper edge of the slide, as best shown in Figure 4.

A latch bar 24 is pivoted to the bottom surface of the seat near the front thereof, as shown at 25, and extends downwardly through an opening 26 in the platform. The latch bar is provided with a notch 21 which engages a keeper 28 on the platform to releasably support the seat in 1 raised horizontal position.

A lever 29, best shown in Figure 6, is pivoted between-its ends to the platform as shown at 30 and extends laterally beyond the platform and beyond the slide. A target 3| is secured to the outer end of the lever. The inner end of the lever is bent abruptly as shown at 32 in Figure 6 for the purpose which presently will be described. The lever normally contacts with the latch bar and when the target is struck by a ball or other game piece, the lever is rocked in a direction to swing the latch bar out of engagement with the keeper to release the seat with the'result that the occupant moves therefrom onto the slide and into the tank.

A helical spring 33 is connected at one end to the rear edge of the seat and is connected at the other end to the platform. After the occupant has left the seat, the seat is immediately returned to raised position by this spring, while the latch swings toward the keeper and the keeper lodges in the notch 2'! as the seat arrives at normal position.

A helical spring 34 is secured at one end to a depending lug 35 on a bar 38, best shown in Figure 8, which is secured to the bottom face of the seat. The opposite end of the spring is secured to the before mentioned bent. end 32 of the lever 29 as best shown in Figure 3. The spring retracts, when the occupant has left the seat, to pull the inner end of the lever rearwardly and return the target 3| on the outer end of the lever to operative position. The front end of the bar 36, best shown in Figure 7, projects in the path of the lever 29 to limit return movement of the lever after each actuation, so that the target 3| cannot move forward beyond its operative position.

Since the operation of the device has been described, as the description of the parts progressed, it is thought that the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising an inclined slide, a platform at the top of the slide, a seat, a support rigidly secured to the seat and extending downwardly at a right angle from the rear edge thereof, a pivotal connection between the bottom of the support and the platform adapted to cause the seat to fall forward into a position in alignment with the slide with its front edge portion contacting the upper edge portion of the slide, a latch bar pivoted to the lower side of the seat and extending downwardly through an opening in the platform, a keeper on the platform with which the latch bar engages, and an operating lever pivoted between its ends on the lower side of the platform and extending laterally beyond the platform and beyond the slide adapted to release the latch bar from the keeper and permit the seat to rock forward to dump an occupant thereof onto the slide.

2. An amusement device comprising an inclined slide, a platform at the top of the slide, a seat, a support rigidly secured to the seat and extending downwardly at a right angle from the rear edge thereof, a pivotal connection between the bottom of the support and the platform adapted to cause the seat to fall forward into a position in alignment with the slide with its frontedge portion contacting the upper edge portion of the slide, a latch bar pivoted to the lower side of the seat and extending downwardly through an opening in the platform, akeeper onthe platform with which the latch bar engages, a lever pivoted between its ends on the lower side of the platform and extending laterally beyond the platform and beyond the slide adapted to release the latch bar from the keeper and permit the seat to rock with the lever and preventing movement of the lever forwardly beyond the operative position after each actuation.

ROY E. KELLER. 

